I’ve been really loving the Biker Boot look lately. I keep stopping by Aldo and Browns to stare at and touch their Motorcycle Boots. Browns’ boots are so hot, with chains and buckles, kind of a beigey-colored suede, but costs $598!!! Not for a trendy piece! No, thanks. Aldo’s are much more affordable, and much simpler at that, but still nice and rugged. I guess I want to show off my tougher side, what after a summer of girly dresses and cutesy heels.

I love the look with leggings or skinny jeans. I also love it with mini dresses, the look most boys will surely disapprove of. But as they say, girls don’t dress for boys. Girls dress for other girls! And my girls will surely approve!

But can mere mortals pull this look off? Or does one have to be as tall and skinny as Carmen Pedaru (above) in order to avoid looking stalky? I guess if I continue to stalk those boots for another week, I’ll just have to budge and get them…skinny legs or not.

Mango’s Fall/Winter catalogue is out! I really like these shots. Daisy Lowe is a bit of an unexpected choice, but it works. The girl is a fashionista and a gorgeous one at that, so that obviously helps! Kinda makes me want to go and check out Mango now.

Zara will always have a special place in my heart. Not only because I once worked there, but also because there’s no other company out there that imitates the latest and the baddest trends the way Zara does. The company always seems to be having legal woes due to blatant copying of some designers’ work (Zara’s “Balmain” shoes are one recent example), but season after season they keep on going on.

I know that it is not nice, and even legally questionable, since Zara’s “designers” essentially steal others’ creative ideas…But in terms of making fashion available to everyone, not just the privileged few, Zara must be thanked! Take those “Balmain” shoes, for example. I mean, really…who (other than Beyonce and JLo) in their right mind would spend nearly $3000 on a pair of super trendy shoes?! Not anyone I know! But coughing up $200 for a pair of Zara knockoffs is definitely more palatable, especially if it lets the wearer enjoy practically the same look for less. Creative plagiarism of course, will always be a crucial topic for those in the fashion industry, but for everyday people like you and me – trends will come and go, but Zara has been and (hopefully) will always be a place to turn to, to get a quick fix of the latest, perhaps not the most lasting, fashions.

With that, here’s Zara’s Fall/Winter 2009 Trend Photos. Love, love, love everything! If you haven’t been to a store in a while (it’s so messy there during their semi-annual sale), I urge you to pay them a little visit soon! Awesome dresses, boots, skinny pants, jackets…Pick up a few trendy items (aren’t those thigh-high boots fab?), and some classics (trench coat, anyone?) too! The new collection will make you wish it was fall already!

Judging from the looks of the few pictures released by H&M, the Fall/Winter 2010 Divided Collection looks very promising! Dark, edgy, and exaggerated…many of the high fashion runway looks were recreated and made wearable (or semi wearable). Studs, broad shoulders, sequins, leather accessories, leather jackets, leather leotards (!) – it’s all there! And it all looks ridiculously amazing!!!

Below are a few items that are now on my Fall/Winter wish list. I do hope that they show up in Toronto stores. Crossing my fingers till late August!

WHAT I WORE

WHO IS NELIA?

Nelia Belkova is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blogger by night and a financial analyst by day. She loves to travel, read gossip sites, eat sweets, and cuddle up to her husband and her cat on the couch. Read More…